Along the Natchez Trace

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

The Rest of the Story, Sapper Percy Fenton

This post is offered with some trepidation because some may judge my choice of words. I hope the truth, presented in the most honest and caring way I know of, will suffice.

For the CoAAG 3nd Edition I wrote about Percy Fenton. The question has been asked, how is it that I came to know about Percy? The answer is, Percy is in my data base, he is a half great-uncle to Man.

I chose NOT to go into the relationship in my post for the CoAAG 3nd Edition because it may have over shadowed Percy’s story. He deserved a post all to his own, paying honor to his service.

So, here is a bit of the back story.

Man’s great grandfather was William Franklin Fenton (1861-1939). William married first, Fannie Hurlburt (ca 1865- 1898). When William was left a widower, he married again, Ida May Jarvis (1875-1959). Nothing different here, except for one small fact, Ida was of black heritage. I have been told she was of black and Indian heritage, but, my research is a bit thin here, someday, I really need to do some more.) William and Ida had 5 children, Percy was their first born.

Place this in the time frame, around 1900. Even though this family lived in Nova Scotia, there was racism there too.

From what I can tell in my research and talking to living family members, this marriage created a huge chasm in the Fenton clan. The truth of it is simple, not nice, but, simple. William Franklin Fenton was cut off from the rest of his family. I have proof of some and stories of more. Telling them here in this format, will not change things, and may only create more friction for the some of family, so, I choose not to tell them at this time. They are ugly and this family deserves better. That said, the story is spelled out quite extensively in my data base, because I don’t want to ignore it either, and I don’t.

Man and I have been aware of this half of his family for a number of years, our children know about it, and have not expressed any opinions other than, WOW, that is pretty interesting. I have shared phone calls and letters and email with a number of Ida’s descendants. They are such interesting wonderfully warm people. Man and I are delighted to have made their acquaintance and the ability to share their common ancestry.

We are after all, family!

* I have also been asked how Percy's medal ended up on EBay, and, I have to say, I am not quite sure, but did find this quote, "The seller of Fenton's medal, who lives in Nova Scotia, refused an interview with CBC News", at one of the news stories I quoted in the original blog post.

**Percy left no heirs when he died, as far as I know, he never married.

It takes open people to close the friction of insignificance within families. Only insignificant as blood and DNA can't be changed Hopefully through your openness and acceptance, healing may begin. Personally, I'm with Linda Lee...I too think blended families are a gift.

Count

All photos on this blog are those taken by Man or Moi, unless otherwise noted. Documents are either from some great genealogy site or are scans of originals I have turned up in my years of research. Other images should be accompanied by some kind of source data.

Please be courteous, if you borrow them, give us credit. We know you are clicking! Thank you, we are honored you care to borrow.

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About Me

Things I love: Family, Grandchildren, Rving, computers (sometimes, but not when they are being bad), family history, yorkies, techy toys like my iToys, photography.
I am all of these, so I write about them all, and more.

Photo courtesy of Deborah Flynn Guinther

If you surf in and see a name in your family tree, please contact me, best way, of course, is by email. You know the routine, change the AT and the DOT:
lashbrooke5 AT yahoo DOT com

Caring Bridge

Nonprofit organization for free websites for families to stay connected during serious illnesses.

Which Am I?

Am I a genealogist or a family historian?

Well, both of course, how can you be one without the other?

A family historian depends on the genealogist to supply the facts.

A genealogist depends on the family historian to tell the stories.

Genealogist, family historian, I am one in the same.

The bad towing machine: JGGBB4, Jolly Green Giant Big Butt 4.

Favorite sayings

" Living on Earth isn't cheap, but it does include a yearly free trip around the sun." (Source unknown.)

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." Theodore Roosevelt

"The only difference between a rut and a grave...is the depth."

Chinese proverb: "To forget one's ancestors is to be a brook without a source, a tree without a root."

"I sure wish they sold memory sticks for humans...I could use an upgrade."

"Don't let procrastination be your primary time management skill."

"If you are normal....no one will listen, If you're deranged....they will make you their leader."

"You're just jealous that the voices are talking to ME!"

"I'm quite sure that no friendship yields its true pleasure and nobility of nature without frequent communication, sympathy and service." (From George E. Woodberry)

"When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand." (From Henri Nouwen)

"Don't go where the road leads, rather go where there is no road and make a trail."

"Broken hearts are what give us strength, understanding and compassion."